THE NEW YORK
POELILERARY
97336

ASTOS, PAY AND
TILDEN FO

1898

"Whenever, for the purposes of government, we arrive, in any state of society, at a class so miserable as to be in want of the common necessaries of life, a new principle comes into action. The usual restraints which are sufficient for the well-fed, are often useless in checking the demands of hungry stomachs. Other and more powerful means must then be employed; a larger array of military or police force must be maintained. Under such circumstances, it may be considerably cheaper to fill empty stomachs to the point of ready obedience, than to compel starving wretches to respect the roast beef of their more industrious neighbours: and it may be expedient, in a mere economical point of view, to supply gratuitously the wants even of ablebodied persons, if it can be done without creating crowds of additional applicants."

BABBAGE, On the Principles of Taxation. London, 1851.

FROM THE ACCESSION OF GEORGE THE FIRST TO THE
END OF THE REIGN OF GEORGE THE THIRD

CHAPTER X

A.D. 1714-1760

Accession of George I.-The Riot and Septennial Acts-Punishment of
robbery-Idle youths to serve in the colonies-Desertion of families-
Punishments for killing deer and destroying plantations-Piracy—
Regulation of trade-South Sea scheme-Amendment of the law-
Regulation of relief-Parishes may unite for providing poorhouses
Settlement-New workhouses-Illegal confederacies-Prohibition of
trade combinations and "truck"-Accession of George II.-Bastardy—
The "Charitable Corporation "-Robberies-Corn-riots-Scarcity of
corn; its exportation prohibited-The Foundling Hospital-War against
Spain and France-Rebellion of 1745-Protection from theft-Duties
of overseers-Liability of incomers to pay rates-Rating of reclaimed
lands-The Vagrant Act-Dr. Burn on vagrancy-The north-west
passage-Profane swearing-Servants and apprentices-Scale of wages
-Prices of wheat-Unemployed soldiers and sailors may exercise
trades-Change of style-Executions for murder-Street robberies and
defective police-Settlement-Deficient harvest of 1756-Prices of
wheat, and ratés of wages-Death of George II. .
Pages 1-52

CHAPTER XI

A. D. 1760-1786

Summary at the close of George II.'s reign-Accession of George III.-
Schemes for Poor Law reform-Poor children in London parishes-

V

Sir Jonas Hanway's Act-Fraudulent payments to the poor-Magdalen
Asylum-The Marine Society-Lying-in hospitals-Plan for parochial
annuities-Regulation of wages and labour-Scarcity-Import and

export of corn-Repeal of laws against "forestallers," etc.-American
War-War with France and Spain-General peace-Results of the war
- Population - Road, enclosure, and canal Bills - Poor-rates- The

steam-engine-Debates in parliament first published-Labourers'

cottages Parish apprenticeship-Gilbert's Act-Gipsies-Discharged

soldiers and sailors-Poor Law revenue and expenditure-Charitable
donations

Pages 53-96

CHAPTER XII

A. D. 1786-1803

-

Reign of George III. continued-Proposed universal benefit society-

Visitation of poorhouses-Defective management and organisation—

Punishment of vagrants-Prohibition of begging-Neglect of families

-Parish apprentices-Friendly societies-Restrictions on the removal

of the poor-The law of settlement-Out-door relief-" Roundsmen ”-

Justices may order occasional relief-Speech and Bill of Mr. Pitt on the

Poor Laws-Mr. Bentham's "Observations"-Commercial treaty with

France-Trial of Warren Hastings-French revolutionary war-]
-Bank

Restriction Act-Union with Ireland-Imports and exports-National

debt and revenue-Population-Prices of corn and provisions-Rate of

wages-Berkshire bread-scale-Increase of poor-rates-State of the

country-Collection of poor-rates-Limit to liability of justices

Pages 97-134

CHAPTER XIII

A. D. 1803-1820

Reign of George III. continued-Renewal of war with France-Provision

for families of militiamen-Increase of poor-rates-Contracts for farm-

ing the poor-Revision of bastardy and settlement laws-Audit of

overseers' accounts-Extension of Gilbert's Act-Abolition of badges-

Apprenticeship indentures-Operation of settlement law-Time of

electing overseers-Repeal of restrictions on exercise of trades-Amend-

ing settlement law-Punishments in workhouses-Justices may excuse

payment of rate-Illegal pawning, etc., of workhouse property-Supply

of goods to workhouses Justices empowered to order out-door relief—

Restriction of punishment-Parish apprenticeship-Sketch of events

from the Peace of Amiens to the battle of Waterloo-Revenue and

national debts—Imports and exports-Prices of wheat-Wages-Poor-

rates-Population-Debate in the House of Commons on the appoint-

ment of a committee on the Poor Laws (1817)—The committee's report

and its results-Parish Vestry Act-Select Vestry Act-Amendment of

settlement laws-Death of the king
. Pages 135-189

PART THE FOURTH

FROM THE ACCESSION OF GEORGE THE FOURTH TO THE

END OF THE YEAR 1853-54.

CHAPTER XIV

A. D. 1820-1834

Accession of George IV.-Savings banks-Servants and apprentices-

New Vagrant Act-Settlement Law-Pauper lunatics-Accession of

William IV.-Poor allotments-Effects of forced employment-The

"parish farm"-Hobhouse's Act-Removal of poor natives of Scotland,

Ireland, and the Channel Islands-Alarm at the increase of poor-rates

-Mr. Scarlett's Bill-Mr. Nolan's Bill-Intended inquiry announced

-Employment of agricultural labourers-Chimney-sweepers-General

Summary, 1824-Commission of Inquiry-The Commissioners' Report

-Practice at Southwell .

Pages 191-236

CHAPTER XV

A. D. 1834

Report and recommendations of the Poor Law Inquiry Commissioners—

Speech of Lord Althorp on introducing to the House of Commons a Bill

founded on the Commissioners' recommendation-Speeches of Lord

Brougham and the Duke of Wellington-Passing of the Poor Law

Amendment Act-Summary of the Act-State of the country-

Expenditure on relief-Amount of rates, population, and prices of

wheat
. Pages 237-288

CHAPTER XVI

A. D. 1834-1837

Proceedings of Poor Law Commissioners-Union and workhouse system

established-Orders and regulations for the government of boards of

guardians - Workhouse regulations - Workhouse plans-Order of

accounts-Migration from southern counties to manufacturing-Emigra-

tion-Bastardy-Commissioners' first report-Reduction of expenditure

-Effect on the labourers-Parish Property Act-Parochial Assessment

Act-Commissioners' second report-Obstruction to the law-Educa-

tion of the workhouse children-Out-door relief-Workhouse dietaries

-Gilbert's incorporations-Parish apprentices-Medical relief-Inde-

pendent sick-clubs-New order of accounts-Auditors' summary of

second year's proceedings-Impediments in the way of the Commission

-Commissioners' third report-Andover and Cuckfield unions—

Stoke-upon-Trent and Nottingham unions-The workhouse system

universally applicable-Death of William IV. . . Pages 289-333

CHAPTER XVII

A. D. 1837-1847

Parochial Assessment Act in operation-Commissioners' fourth and fifth

reports progress and results-Unpopularity of the Commission-Its

uses-Its renewal for one year-Early trials of the law-Savings banks

-Friendly societies-Loan societies-Education of pauper children--

Supplemental report-Irish Poor Relief Act-Amount of relief and

numbers relieved-Principle of relief-Commercial difficulty and dis-

tress-Causes of increased expenditure-Comparison of expenditure

and numbers relieved-Amount of property assessed-Task-work—

Pauper lunatics - Vaccination Acts - General rules - Provisions of

Amendment Act, 1844-Medical relief-Failure of potato-crop-Allot-

ment system-High prices -Famine and fever; influx of paupers from

Ireland-Labour in the workhouse-Bone-breaking-The Andover

committee-Salaries of union officers-Grant towards salaries-The Acts

of 1845, '46, and '47-Mr. Bodkin's Act-Removal of Nuisances Act-

Letter relative to transaction of business of the Commission-Old and

new system contrasted
. Pages 334-382

CHAPTER XVIII

A. D. 1847-1853

The Commission is dissolved-Powers of the new Commissioners---Aged

couples not to be separated-Visiting committees directed-Increase of

expenditure and of the numbers relieved-Difficulty as regards out-relief

-Exemption of stock-in-trade from rating-Resolutions of committee

on law of settlement-Consolidated order-New Commission gazetted—

Mr. Bodkin's Act - Mr. Buller's speech and Bill - Vagrancy; Mr.

Buller's minute-Workhouse schools-Emigration-Operation of settle-

ment law-Parochial chargeability-Norwood and Tooting "farming"

establishments-Cholera-Number of union officers and their salaries

-Usefulness of the workhouse-Rating of owners-Protection of poor

children-Commissioners empowered to arbitrate-Audit of accounts-

Vaccination-Education-Emigration-Improvement of workhouses-

Expenditure on relief-Numbers relieved-Number of unions-Com-

missioners' orders and regulations-Laws now in force-Continuation of

the Commission-Mr. Baines's speech on settlement-Its abolition, and

the consolidation of the law, anticipated-Conclusion. Pages 383-436